FAQ

Brands & Products FAQ

Palm oil, which comes from the fruit of the oil palm tree, is used mainly in food products. However, it is also used in personal care and cosmetics, mainly for its good saponification index and high concentration of lauric acid, which give a soap its hardness, as well as its cleansing and foaming properties. The intensive cultivation of oil palms can have major consequences on the environment and biodiversity.

THE L'OCCITANE COMMITMENTWe do not directly purchase or use palm oil in our formulas. However, our soap noodles and certain derivatives (such as surfactants, which give a formula its foaming properties) may contain it. Nevertheless, the volumes used by our activity are very low in relation to worldwide consumption across all sectors.

When it comes to sourcing our ingredients, we are committed to upholding our values and ensuring the quality, traceability and sustainability of our plant ingredient supply chains. This is why we have launched various initiatives to ensure that we use palm oil responsibly in our products.

Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil
Since 2011, L’OCCITANE has been a member of the RSPO (Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil) – a not-for-profit organization that unites all stakeholders from the palm oil industry. Its aim is to develop and implement global standards for certified sustainable palm oil.

By the end of 2015, 100% of our soaps sold in stores will be formulated with traceable and sustainable palm oil, in accordance with one of the highest levels of traceability defined by the RSPO (Segregated).

Moreover, in 2014, we launched a procedure that makes it possible to identify the presence of palm oil derivatives in all of our raw materials. Between now and 2020, we will be implementing an action plan so that 100% of these raw materials can be awarded RSPO certification in accordance with the highest levels of traceability.

Our soap flake suppliers are going one step further than the RSPO criteria and are signatories to the "Palm Oil Innovation Charter". This charter lays down stricter provisions with regard to protecting biodiversity, fighting deforestation, building ethical and sustainable partnerships with local populations, and carbon storage.

We also encourage our suppliers to use RSPO-certified palm oil and to give priority to the highest certification levels.

Setting up a supply chain

To go even further, we are working on setting up a supply chain in West Africa with a contracted supplier of palm oil. This will allow us to have a direct supply, as well as greater control over the traceability of the raw material and environmental and social impacts.

ROLE: Preservative (molecules to fight against the microbiological contamination of cosmetic formulas). All formulas containing water need preservatives so that they can be used in normal conditions (kept in the bathroom, everyday contact with the user's hands, etc.).

L’OCCITANE POSITION: Today, parabens have been removed from all of our formulas.

ROLE: There are numerous forms of silicones used in cosmetic products, particularly leave-on skincare products as they give a soft feeling to the formulas. In addition, all types of hair-care products generally use silicones as they leave hair shiny and smooth.

L’OCCITANE POSITION: We limit our concentration of silicones to a maximum of 5% in our care formulas,with the exception of some sun protection products when mineral sun filters are dispersed for better efficacy. We do not use silicones that are suspected to be toxic. Because silicones are suspected to be poorly biodegradable, we are working on their total or partial substitution with plant-based alternatives in order to obtain the most sensory feeling and application of our products. We also try to give present an option to customers who search for products that do not contain silicone. For instance, our Aromachology Repairing Shampoo does not contain silicone. Angelica Sublime Essence, which has an incredible silicone-likeeffect, also does not contain silicone.

The L’OCCITANE Group has been against animal testing for more than 40 years and we have never tested our products, active ingredients or raw materials on animals at any point in the product development or manufacturing process.
The Group is fundamentally against animal testing of beauty products on a worldwide basis. In China, where our products are retailed, the local Chinese authorities request that some cosmetic products sold on the Chinese market are tested. They view it as the best way to safeguard consumer safety in China.
We do not conduct these tests. They are done by Chinese laboratories that have been approved by local authorities on a limited animal panel.
To move things forward, the cosmetics industry is developing its relationship with the Chinese authorities with the clear objective of bringing animal testing for beauty products to a definitive end. The industry has engaged with the relevant authorities and animal rights NGOs so as to highlight alternative techniques that are being used in Europe, where animal testing has now been banned.
This constructive dialogue has led to a series of advances in Chinese regulation, including a decision in June 2014 to end this type of testing on so-called “ordinary cosmetics” that are manufactured and packaged locally (shampoo, perfume etc.). Another major milestone was made in November 2016 when the CFDA (China Food and Drug Administration) approved the use of a non-animal test for safety assessment of certain cosmetic ingredients. Currently the NIFDC (National Institute for Food and Drug Control) is considering acceptance of other alternatives to animal testing (AAT).
To further demonstrate our commitment to ending animal testing, the L’OCCITANE Group has partnered with the Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS). The IIVS has an active program in China dedicated to promoting the use and regulatory acceptance of AAT. More information about this program can be found on the IIVS website.
We remain convinced that this open dialogue with Chinese organisations will further influence Chinese regulation and put an end to animal testing once and for all.
Thank you for your interest and we hope this statement has clarified our position.

To discover our wide range of skincare and perfumes, we invite you to go to your nearest boutique. Our sales assistants will do a personal beauty diagnosis and you will be able to try numerous textures and fragrances in order to choose what fits best your needs.

If you cannot go to a boutique, you can make your diagnosis skincare and fragrance on line. Also, you can contact our Customer Service for any personal advice at info@loccitane.com.my or call 03-2720 6288 (Monday to Friday: 10am 1pm and 3pm - 5pm, excluding Public Holidays).

L'OCCITANE welcomes feedback on your experience with our products. To leave a review, simple visit the product page and write your testimonial in the open box under "Customer's Review".

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with other L'OCCITANE customers.

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